This blog is to capture all articles relating to good work including initiatives and successes with regards to gangs (predominantly in London), but also good news stories involving young people more generally.

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Wednesday, 19 December 2012

Duo are recognised for their community spirit

Enfield Independent

Wednesday, 19 December 2012

Actress: Joelyn Morrall

Young achievers represented borough at awards ceremony

By Koos Couvée

TWO young achievers represented Enfield at an awards ceremony celebrating positive young role models.

Tom Prior, 20, of Princes Avenue, Enfield Lock, and Joelyn Morrall, 21, of Lowden Road, Edmonton, were nominated for Spirit of London awards.

The awards ceremony, which was held at the 02 arena in Greenwich on Monday last week, celebrated the positive contributions London’s young people make to their communities.

Both narrowly missed out on awards.

Joelyn, who was nominated in the arts category, said the awards show, which included performances from pop acts McFly, Noisettes and Angel, was “absolutely inspirational”.

Joelyn, who has been performing with Chickenshed Theatre, in Chase Side, Southgate, since the age of four, used her background in theatre to help combat knife crime.

She started to campaign against knives after losing her 14-year-old cousin Shaquille Smith, from Hackney, in an unprovoked attack in 2008.

Joelyn is currently touring London schools, encouraging teenagers to engage with issues surrounding violence through Crime Of The Century, a play she has written about Shaquille’s tragic death.

She told the Advertiser: “You do sometimes feel the spirit of London is waning and that’s why it is so important young people know about these awards.

“For me, art is the perfect way to tackle gang violence because on stage you have to support and trust each other – the rivalry disappears.”

Singer-songwriter and rapper Tom was nominated in the music category.

The 20-year-old transformed a shed in his parents’ garden into his own studio when he was 14 years old and has been tutoring a group of teenagers there for some years.

The group is called Clockwork and nominated him for the award. Tom, whose songs No Church In The Wild and Heartbeat can be watched on YouTube, told the Advertiser: “I was very happy to just be there – there was so much positivity in that hall.

“It felt amazing to be recognised in this way and made me feel proud. “It’s good to have a positive message coming out about youth in Enfield.”

Joelyn is currently starring in Chickenshed’s Sleeping Beauty – Dream On production, which is being performed until January 12.

Tom is working on a new EP entitled Route 279, which is expected to be released next year.

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